PYO

Pyo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “pus.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

Pyo- comes from the Greek pýon, meaning “pus.”

What are variants of pyo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, pyo- becomes py–, as in pyemia.

One example of a medical term that features the combining form pyo- is pyoderma. Pyoderma means “any skin eruption characterized by pustules or the formation of pus.”

As we have seen, pyo- means “pus.” The second part of the word, -derma, is a combining form that refers to skin and skin disorders. Putting these two parts together, pyoderma literally translates to “pus skin.”

What are some words that use the combining form pyo-?

• pyocele
• pyochezia
• pyocyst
• pyogenic
• pyohemia
• pyorrhea (from the equivalent form of pyo- in New Latin)
• pyostatic
• pyosalpinx
• pyothorax

What are some other forms that pyo- may be commonly confused with?

• myo-
• pyro-

A cyst is a closed, bladderlike sac formed in animal tissues, containing fluid or semifluid matter. What kind of fluid is found in a pyocyst?